Regional Environmental Features and Their Consideration in Assessing Chemical Pollution in the Arctic

The work was carried out within the framework of the state assignment, Topic no. FMWE-2024-0020

Abstract

The study  into the regional variability of the natural environment in the Arctic is of key importance for an accurate assessment of the impact produced by pollution, since uniform federal regulations often  fail to consider natural fluctuations, resulting in errors in environmental monitoring and regulation. Addressing these gaps will allow for more effective environmental protection and sustainable management of fragile Arctic ecosystems. Currently, Russia lacks a  systemic approach to the development of regionally adapted criteria for assessing chemical pollution in the Arctic, considering the high spatial and temporal variability of natural conditions and their influence on background concentrations of pollutants. Existing standards (for example, MPC) are based on national averages, which leads to a false  determination of pollution levels and ineffective monitoring. The former stems from naturally high concentrations of metals or phenols in northern rivers and soils being mistakenly attributed to anthropogenic source, while the latter  is linked to a sparse network of observations and ignoring the dynamics of coastal processes distort data. Another gap is the lack of a methodology for regular revision of standards, considering climatic changes and local geochemical features. The purpose of this work is to study the causes of spatial variability of characteristics using the example of Arctic coastal territories and to show their impact on the choice of criteria for assessing the quality of the natural environment. The significance of the study lies in the fact that the authors substantiate the need for regionally adapted environmental standards for the Arctic, using specific examples, and propose some algorithms for zoning territories according to the degree of natural variability of pollutants and the criteria for reviewing existing standards. The study demonstrates how natural factors, such as boggy soils and dynamic coastal processes, can lead to elevated concentrations of metals and phenols, often exceeding federal limits, without anthropogenic influence. The authors advocate for the development of region-specific environmental standards, regularly updated to reflect changing conditions. They also emphasize the need for expanded monitoring networks and interdisciplinary research to distinguish natural pollution sources from anthropogenic ones. The article concludes with recommendations for improving regulatory frameworks to better address regional environmental variability.